PRESS RELEASE issued on 12th December 2001

AUDIT REPORT 2000

During the year 2001, the National Audit Office carried out Regularity, Value for Money and other audits concerning matters relating to financial year ended 31 December 2000. The findings of the NAO’s Regularity audits are being included in this Report. Value for Money and other Special Audits are issued separately from this Report.

Part 1 (Audit Opinion) of the Report comprises the overall Audit Opinion on the financial statements of the Ministries and Departments of the Government of Malta and on the consolidated Government Financial Report. It provides an opinion on the audits and examinations that were carried out during 2001 and outlines the more serious shortcomings and observations detected by the National Audit Office.

Part 2 (Executive Summary of Findings) highlights the main issues contained in the Report to help readers identify the main areas of audit concern.

Part 3 (Work and Activities of the NAO) outlines the role and duties of the Auditor General and reports upon the work and activities of the National Audit Office during the year 2001.

Part 4 (Financial Report 2000) contains a synopsis and examination of the 2000 Government Financial Report. Audit comments are submitted on the Consolidated Fund, Loans made by Government, Investments, Public Debt, Advances and Letters of Comfort/Bank Guarantees.

Part 5 (Corporate Issues) identifies items of a common nature throughout government Ministries and Departments. These include issues relating to:

Part 6 (Departmental Issues) provides findings of a material nature uncovered during audits in specific Ministries and Departments. These include issues relating to the following Ministries/Departments:

Part 7 (Special Report) concerns an audit carried out to assess the efficiency with which the Inland Revenue Department issued assessment to Self Employed Taxpayers for the four year period Year of Assessment 1997 to Year of Assessment 2000.